Cultural traditions hold great importance in human life. People follow their traditions from the period of their ancestors. Tradition and culture depict the civilization of the countries. People follow them and want to live with them because they want to preserve the tradition and culture of their forefathers and civilizations.

The cultures and traditions of every country are different that makes them unique from others. Many governments take pride in preserving the culture and traditions of their countries because it depicts that their nation is still alive. Traditions that are considered auspicious in one culture may be inauspicious in other cultures. In this era of globalization, to interact with different cultures, it is necessary to know their traditions so that no harsh feelings pop up among people of different cultures and they live with global peace.

Here are 10 such cultural traditions across the globe that you might find interesting.

Don’t Ask for Salt If You are in Egypt

If food is less salty, we do ask for salt and it does not matter in many cultures. However, if you are in Egypt, then if you ask for salt, it means that you don’t like the taste of the food that is served to you. So if you ever go to Egypt, don’t ask for salt.

Table Manners in Norway

In many cultures, people don’t mind if you eat with your bare hands but if you are in a Scandinavian country, then it is against table manners to eat with bare hands. In a country like Norway, people do eat sandwiches with a fork and knife. Make sure you learn to use a fork, knife, spoon, and chopsticks if you are planning to visit any Scandinavian country.

Considering the Colors of the Flowers If You are in Russia

If you want to give flowers to your Russian friends and colleagues, then you should consider the colors of the flowers. Don’t ever try to give yellow color flowers because it depicts deceit and breakup. Same is the case with carnations, they are usually given to army officers who come alive from wars and to them who died in wars.

Punctuality in Different Cultures

People value time according to their country’s customs. If you are invited for dinner in Venezuela then it is fine to be late by 10 to 15 minutes because if you show punctuality in this scenario, your host will consider you greedy. In Malaysia, you can come late for just five minutes and you are not held accountable for it. In China, you can come late only for 10 minutes. Americans, Japanese, South Koreans, and German give importance to punctuality. If we talk about Morocco then they don’t mind if you are an hour late. Likewise, if you need to conduct the meeting in Greek and Mexico, then it does not matter if you are 30 minutes late.

Burying the Tooth in Several Cultures

Many Indian American tribes bury the child tooth in a specific location and grow different kinds of bushes, herbs, and branches there. To keep a memory of childhood, they bury it at an east side of the bush. Some people bury baby teeth at the entrance of their home and perceive that anyone who walks over the burial spot will grow a new tooth. In turkey, it is assumed that the burial place of the tooth will become a lucky place for the child in the future. If parents want their child to become a scholar, they bury a tooth in the garden of a university or a library. In most cultures, children are told to keep their teeth beneath their pillow: they are told that fairies will come and will give them money. In Greek culture, children are asked to toss their teeth in the air. This will bring happiness and good omen to the family.

Avoid Using Red Ink for writing your name in South Korea

Do you know, writing someone’s name with red Ink in South Korea is considered offensive? If you write anyone’s name using red ink, it means that the person has passed away and if he is alive, you are not his well-wisher. In the past, red ink was used to write the names of dead people in the register and the same cultural norm is still followed in South Korea.

Sauna Trip in Finland

Many people go to the Sauna to relax. In Finland, if you are asked to go to Sauna after meeting, don’t be surprised. Invitation to the Sauna after meetings depicts that your meeting is successful.

Greeting in Different Cultures

In Germany, you need to greet people by shaking hands. If there are children available at the place then you also need to shake hands with the children. When we talk about Japan, one needs to bow himself while greeting and thanking someone. The magnitude of the bow depends upon the age and the social status of the person. In Argentina, it is important to give a kiss on the cheeks while greeting.

Shoving Birthday Cake on the Face

Many youngsters when celebrating their birthdays together shove the cake on each other’s faces. In Mexico, it is a cultural tradition to shove the cake on the face of the birthday person. The cake is decorated for the person who is celebrating his birthday. He will blow the candle and cut the cake. Family and friends will sing a birthday jingle and then the cake is shoved on the birthday man’s face.

Fingerhakeln (finger-pulling) Game in Austria

Fingerhakeln (finger-pulling) game is the traditional sport that is played in Austria. The rules of this game are very strict, and it is like a tug of war. The purpose of this game is to drag the opposite person by the finger on the table. This game is also very popular in Germany.

Wrapping Up

Traditions vary from country to country. To be on the safe side, it’s better to read about the cultural traditions of the country that you are planning to visit. In case you need professional translations services for your travel documents of business documents, we have got you covered! We are providing fast, reliable, and economical translation solutions in 120+ languages. Get in touch to know more!